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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/09_1Sa_15_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 15:3 - Saul's Disobedience" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_samuel/15-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_samuel/15-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/">1 Samuel</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/15.htm">Chapter 15</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_samuel/15-2.htm" title="1 Samuel 15:2">◄</a> 1 Samuel 15:3 <a href="/1_samuel/15-4.htm" title="1 Samuel 15:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/1_samuel/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/15.htm">New International Version</a> Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/15.htm">New Living Translation</a> Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” <a href="/esv/1_samuel/15.htm">English Standard Version</a> Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/15.htm">King James Bible</a> Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/15.htm">New King James Version</a> Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/15.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8216Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a> ‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” <a href="/amp/1_samuel/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” <a href="/csb/1_samuel/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ” <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/asv/1_samuel/15.htm">American Standard Version</a> Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> "Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Don't have any pity. Kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys." <a href="/erv/1_samuel/15.htm">English Revised Version</a> Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Now go and attack Amalek. Claim everything they have for God by destroying it. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, infants and children, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys." <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/15.htm">Good News Translation</a> Go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys." <a href="/isv/1_samuel/15.htm">International Standard Version</a> Now, go and attack Amalek. Completely destroy all that they have. Don't spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, both ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" <a href="/msb/1_samuel/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.?? <a href="/net/1_samuel/15.htm">NET Bible</a> So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don't spare them. Put them to death--man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.'" <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Now go and strike Amalek and put them and everything that belongs to them under the ban. And do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. <a href="/web/1_samuel/15.htm">World English Bible</a> Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Now go, and you have struck Amalek, and devoted all that he has, and you have no pity on him, and have put to death from man to woman, from infant to suckling, from ox to sheep, from camel to donkey.” <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Now, go, and thou hast smitten Amalek, and devoted all that it hath, and thou hast no pity on it, and hast put to death from man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox unto sheep, from camel unto ass.' <a href="/slt/1_samuel/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Now go and strike Amalek, and exterminate all which is to him, and thou shalt not spare to him; and kill from man even to woman, from child even to suckling, from ox and even to sheep, from camel and even to ass.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Now therefore go, and smite Amalec, and utterly destroy all that he hath: spare him not, nor covet any thing that is his: but slay both man and woman, child and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Now therefore, go and strike Amalek, and demolish all that is his. You shall not spare him, and you shall not covet anything out of the things that are his. Instead, kill from man even to woman, and little ones as well as infants, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/15.htm">New American Bible</a> Go, now, attack Amalek, and put under the ban everything he has. Do not spare him; kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.” <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Now go and smite the Amalekites, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both men and women, young people and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and asses. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/15.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Now go, cut off Amaleq and destroy all that belongs to them, and you shall not have pity upon them, and kill, from the men and unto the women, and from young men and unto infants, and from bulls and unto sheep, and from camels and unto the donkeys!’”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/15.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' <a href="/sep/1_samuel/15.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And now go, and thou shalt smite Amalec and Hierim and all that belongs to him, and thou shalt not save anything of him alive, but thou shalt utterly destroy him: and thou shalt devote him and all his to destruction, and thou shalt spare nothing belonging to him; and thou shalt slay both man and woman, and infant and suckling, and calf and sheep, and camel and ass. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/15-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=4014" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Saul's Disobedience</a> …2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt. 3<a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: ‘at·tāh (Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: lêḵ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">go</a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: wə·hik·kî·ṯāh (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-2ms) -- To smite. A primitive root; to strike.">and attack</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6002.htm" title="6002: ‘ă·mā·lêq (N-proper-ms) -- A desc. of Esau, also his posterity. Probably of foreign origin; Amalek, a descendant of Esau; also his posterity and their country.">the Amalekites</a> <a href="/hebrew/2763.htm" title="2763: wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tem (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-2mp) -- A primitive root; to seclude; specifically to devote to religious uses; physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose.">and devote to destruction</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">belongs to them.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/2550.htm" title="2550: ṯaḥ·mōl (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To spare. A primitive root; to commiserate; by implication, to spare.">spare</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: wə·hê·mat·tāh (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-2ms) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">but put to death</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: mê·’îš (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">men</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ- (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">women,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5768.htm" title="5768: mê·‘ō·lêl (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- A child. Or lolal; from uwl; a suckling.">children</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/3243.htm" title="3243: yō·w·nêq (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To suck. A primitive root; to suck; causatively, to give milk.">infants,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7794.htm" title="7794: miš·šō·wr (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.). From shuwr; a bullock.">oxen</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/7716.htm" title="7716: śeh (N-ms) -- Or sey; probably from sha'ah through the idea of pushing out to graze; a member of a flock, i.e. A sheep or goat.">sheep,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1581.htm" title="1581: mig·gā·māl (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- A camel. Apparently from gamal; a camel.">camels</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/2543.htm" title="2543: ḥă·mō·wr (N-ms) -- A male ass. Or chamor; from chamar; a male ass.">donkeys.’”</a> 4So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/deuteronomy/25-17.htm">Deuteronomy 25:17-19</a> Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, / how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. / When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget! <a href="/exodus/17-14.htm">Exodus 17:14-16</a> Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” / And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner. / “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.” <a href="/numbers/24-20.htm">Numbers 24:20</a> Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.” <a href="/joshua/6-17.htm">Joshua 6:17-21</a> Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.” ... <a href="/deuteronomy/7-1.htm">Deuteronomy 7:1-2</a> When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Deuteronomy 20:16-18</a> However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God. <a href="/esther/3-1.htm">Esther 3:1</a> After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him. <a href="/judges/1-28.htm">Judges 1:28</a> When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely. <a href="/1_kings/20-42.htm">1 Kings 20:42</a> And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’” <a href="/2_kings/10-11.htm">2 Kings 10:11</a> So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor. <a href="/psalms/137-8.htm">Psalm 137:8-9</a> O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. / Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. <a href="/isaiah/34-5.htm">Isaiah 34:5-8</a> When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom. / And the wild oxen will fall with them, the young bulls with the strong ones. Their land will be drenched with blood, and their soil will be soaked with fat. ... <a href="/jeremiah/50-21.htm">Jeremiah 50:21</a> Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,” declares the LORD. <a href="/ezekiel/25-12.htm">Ezekiel 25:12-14</a> This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’ <a href="/obadiah/1-10.htm">Obadiah 1:10-14</a> Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever. / On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them. / But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.utterly destroy<a href="/leviticus/27-28.htm">Leviticus 27:28,29</a> Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD… <a href="/numbers/24-20.htm">Numbers 24:20</a> And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.<a href="/deuteronomy/13-15.htm">Deuteronomy 13:15,16</a> Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword… slay<a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5</a> Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;<a href="/numbers/31-17.htm">Numbers 31:17</a> Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.<a href="/isaiah/14-21.htm">Isaiah 14:21,22</a> Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities… ox and sheep<a href="/genesis/3-17.htm">Genesis 3:17,18</a> And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; … <a href="/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20-22</a> For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/15-2.htm">Amalek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-2.htm">Am'alek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-2.htm">Amalekites</a> <a href="/1_samuel/12-3.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-14.htm">Attack</a> <a href="/exodus/2-9.htm">Baby</a> <a href="/judges/20-4.htm">Belongs</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-7.htm">Camel</a> <a href="/judges/8-26.htm">Camels</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-32.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-21.htm">Child</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-47.htm">Children</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-26.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-44.htm">Death</a> <a href="/ruth/4-6.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/1_samuel/12-3.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/numbers/12-12.htm">Infant</a> <a href="/judges/18-21.htm">Infants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-34.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-34.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-13.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-34.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-34.htm">Slay</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-31.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/judges/6-4.htm">Spare</a> <a href="/judges/21-10.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-9.htm">Suckling</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-20.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/judges/1-17.htm">Totally</a> <a href="/judges/21-11.htm">Utterly</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-11.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/15-5.htm">Amalek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-5.htm">Am'alek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-5.htm">Amalekites</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-20.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-7.htm">Attack</a> <a href="/1_kings/3-17.htm">Baby</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-1.htm">Belongs</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-23.htm">Camel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/27-9.htm">Camels</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/2_samuel/6-23.htm">Child</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-6.htm">Children</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm">Death</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-6.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-20.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-19.htm">Infant</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-19.htm">Infants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-19.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/1_samuel/19-13.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/1_samuel/19-1.htm">Slay</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-9.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/2_samuel/21-2.htm">Spare</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-46.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-19.htm">Suckling</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-8.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-8.htm">Totally</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-8.htm">Utterly</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-33.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 15</div>1. <a href="/1_samuel/15-1.htm">Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek</a> 6. <a href="/1_samuel/15-6.htm">Saul favors the Kenites</a> 7. <a href="/1_samuel/15-7.htm">He spares Agag and the best of the spoil</a> 10. <a href="/1_samuel/15-10.htm">Samuel denounces unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience</a> 24. <a href="/1_samuel/15-24.htm">Saul's humiliation</a> 32. <a href="/1_samuel/15-32.htm">Samuel kills Agag</a> 34. <a href="/1_samuel/15-34.htm">Samuel and Saul part</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Now go and attack the Amalekites The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe descended from Esau's grandson Amalek. They were long-standing enemies of Israel, first attacking them at Rephidim shortly after the Exodus (<a href="/exodus/17-8.htm">Exodus 17:8-16</a>). This command to attack is a continuation of God's judgment against them for their opposition to Israel. The Amalekites symbolize persistent sin and opposition to God's people, representing spiritual battles believers face.and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. The term "devote to destruction" (Hebrew: herem) indicates a complete consecration to God, often through destruction. This was a common practice in ancient warfare, signifying that the spoils of war were not for personal gain but were to be wholly given over to God. This command underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for total separation from anything that leads to idolatry or rebellion against God.Do not spare them, This phrase emphasizes the totality of the judgment. Sparing any part of what God has devoted to destruction would be an act of disobedience. It highlights the importance of complete obedience to God's commands, reflecting the seriousness of sin and the need for purity among God's people.but put to death men and women, children and infants, This difficult command reflects the severity of God's judgment against sin and the totality of the Amalekites' corruption. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. The inclusion of all ages and genders indicates the complete eradication of the Amalekite culture, which was deeply opposed to God.oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys. The destruction of livestock further emphasizes the totality of the judgment. In ancient cultures, livestock represented wealth and sustenance. By destroying these, God was ensuring that nothing of the Amalekite culture or economy would remain. This act also prevented Israel from profiting from the spoils, reinforcing the idea that the victory was God's alone and not for personal gain.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a> The first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel, tasked with executing God's command against the Amalekites. 2. <a href="/topical/s/samuel.htm">Samuel</a> The prophet who conveys God's message to Saul, representing God's authority and guidance. 3. <a href="/topical/a/amalekites.htm">Amalekites</a> A nomadic tribe and long-standing enemies of Israel, known for their opposition to God's people. 4. <a href="/topical/a/amalek.htm">Amalek</a> The region or people group that Saul is commanded to destroy completely as an act of divine judgment. 5. <a href="/topical/g/god's_command.htm">God's Command</a> The divine directive given to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites as a form of judgment for their past sins against Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_sin.htm">The Seriousness of Sin</a> The command to destroy the Amalekites underscores the severity of sin and God's judgment against persistent rebellion. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god.htm">Obedience to God</a> Saul's failure to fully obey God's command serves as a warning about the consequences of partial obedience. <a href="/topical/d/divine_justice.htm">Divine Justice</a> God's command reflects His justice and sovereignty, reminding us that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. <a href="/topical/h/historical_context.htm">Historical Context</a> Understanding the historical enmity between Israel and Amalek provides insight into the gravity of God's command. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a> The Amalekites can be seen as a symbol of spiritual enemies that believers must confront and overcome through obedience to God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 15</a> <a href="/q/who_was_agag_in_the_bible's_narrative.htm">Who was Agag in the Bible's narrative?</a> <a href="/q/why_would_god_command_total_destruction.htm">In 1 Samuel 15:3, why would a just and loving God command the complete destruction of an entire population, including children? </a> <a href="/q/what_good_things_should_you_cling_to.htm">Who was Agag in the Bible's narrative?</a> <a href="/q/why_do_amalekites_reappear_in_1_sam_30.htm">If Saul reportedly destroyed the Amalekites earlier (1 Samuel 15), why do they reappear here in 1 Samuel 30? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) Smite Amalek, and utterly destroy . . .--For "utterly destroy" the Hebrew has the far stronger expression, "put under the ban" (cherem). Whatever was "put under the ban" in Israel was devoted to God, and whatever was so devoted could not be redeemed, but must be slain. Amalek was to be looked upon as accursed; human beings and cattle must be killed; whatever was capable of being destroyed by fire must be burnt. The cup of iniquity in this people was filled up. Its national existence, if prolonged, would simply have worked mischief to the commonwealth of nations. Israel here was simply the instrument of destruction used by the Almighty. It is vain to attempt in this and similar transactions to find materials for the blame or the praise of Israel. We must never forget that Israel stood in a peculiar relation to the unseen King, and that this nation was not unfrequently used as the visible scourge by which the All-Wise punished hopelessly hardened sinners, and deprived them of the power of working mischief. We might as well find fault with pestilence and famine, or the sword--those awful instruments of Divine justice and--though we often fail to see it now--of Divine mercy.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 3. - Utterly destroy. Hebrew, "put under the ban." The word herem, ban, properly signifies a thing set apart, especially one devoted to God; and whatever was so devoted could not be redeemed, but must be slain. When a country was put under the ban, all living things, men and cattle, were to be killed; no spoil might be taken, but it was to be burnt, and things indestructible by fire, as silver and gold, were to be brought into the treasury. Everything, in short, belonging to such a nation was looked upon as accursed (see <a href="/numbers/21-2.htm">Numbers 21:2, 3</a>). <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/15-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Now עַתָּה֩ (‘at·tāh) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> At this time go לֵ֨ךְ (lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> To go, come, walk and attack וְהִכִּֽיתָ֜ה (wə·hik·kî·ṯāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> To strike the Amalekites עֲמָלֵ֗ק (‘ă·mā·lêq) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6002.htm">Strong's 6002: </a> Amalek -- a descendant of Esau, also his posterity and completely destroy וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ (wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2763.htm">Strong's 2763: </a> To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every that אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that belongs to them. ל֔וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> Do not וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no spare תַחְמֹ֖ל (ṯaḥ·mōl) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2550.htm">Strong's 2550: </a> To commiserate, to spare them, עָלָ֑יו (‘ā·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against but put to death וְהֵמַתָּ֞ה (wə·hê·mat·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> To die, to kill men מֵאִ֣ישׁ (mê·’îš) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person and עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while women, אִשָּׁ֗ה (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female children מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ (mê·‘ō·lêl) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5768.htm">Strong's 5768: </a> A suckling and וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while infants, יוֹנֵ֔ק (yō·w·nêq) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3243.htm">Strong's 3243: </a> To suck, to give milk oxen מִשּׁ֣וֹר (miš·šō·wr) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7794.htm">Strong's 7794: </a> A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera) and וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while sheep, שֶׂ֔ה (śeh) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7716.htm">Strong's 7716: </a> A member of a, flock, a sheep, goat camels מִגָּמָ֖ל (mig·gā·māl) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1581.htm">Strong's 1581: </a> A camel and וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while donkeys.?? חֲמֽוֹר׃ (ḥă·mō·wr) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2543.htm">Strong's 2543: </a> A male ass <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and strike Amalek and utterly (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/15-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 15:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 15:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/15-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 15:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 15:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>